'examine' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'examinare', where 'ex-' meant 'out of' (or 'thoroughly') and 'examen' meant 'a weighing, trial, or test'.

'examine' changed from the Latin verb 'examinare' into the Old French verb 'examiner', and then entered Middle English as 'examinen' before becoming the modern English 'examine' (and its forms like 'examines').

Initially it meant 'to weigh or test' (in the sense of assessing by weighing or trial), but over time it evolved into the broader modern meaning of 'to inspect, test, or investigate closely'.